Pneumatic cleaner.



A. C. HUMMEL.

PNEUMATIC CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1. 1915.

1 ,1 84,959. Patented May 30, 1916.

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50 nay.

A. CLHUMMEL.

PNEUMATIC CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1. 1915.

Patented May 30, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEI 2.

N MEN 521-4%- us I 4% fnwenfor A550? ey W itness es.-

A. C. HUMMEL.

PNEUMATIC CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7. 1915.

1 ,1 84,959. Patented May 30, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

AUGUST'C. HUMMEL, OF MILFORD, OHIO.

PNEiIMATIc CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1916.

Application filed October Y', 1915. Serial N 0. 54,639.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Arons'r C. HITMMEL, a citizen of the United States. residing at Milford, in the county of Clermont and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to pneumatic cleaners and sweepers; and its object is to combine with the brushing action of.a carpet sweeper a pneumatic cleaning action.

A further object of my invention is to simplify and increase the efiiciency of a pneumatic cleaner.

My inventionconsists in the combination of parts and in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will herein be more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a device embodying my invention, a part being shown as broken away, Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on a. plane corresponding to the line 22 of Fig. 1, but the position of thenearer bellows being indicated by dotted lines: and Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on aplane corresponding to the line 33 of Fig. '2. a part being shown as broken away, and Fig. -l is a sectional detail, on a plane corresponding to the line 41 of Fig. 2, showing the arrangement of the filling pieces and gaskets at the rear of the dust chamber.

As I prefer to construct my invention, there is a casing made up of sides I joined at the front by thin vertical boards '2 and 3 below, and thin rearwandly slanting boards 4 and 5, attached to the upper edges of the boards 2 and 3, respectively, the boards 3 and 5 being spaced back from the boards '2 and 4, forming the nozzle 6.

Immediately under the part is a strip 7. and spaced back from this a Considerable distance, at the top of the casing and somewhat therebelow. respectively. are strips 8 and 9. All of these strips. 7, 8 and 9 run from one side 1 to the other. and the lower strip 9 has its lower side extending some distance below the lower side of the forward strip 7. forming one abutment for a drop door 80 10 which has its front upper side beveled to fit the horizontal lower side of the strip 7. Adjacent to the sides 1 there are abutment ieces 11 of shape to fit the spaces on the inner surfaces of the sides 1. defined by the inneizend of the nozzle 6 and the inner sides of the strip 7, drop door 10, strip 9 and strip 8. and also coming flush with the upper edge of the side 1; and around the lower edges of these pieces 11 and the strips 7 and 9 is a suitable gasket material 12, such as leather. which the door 10 closes against.

Filling pieces 13, against the sides 1. and a filling piece 14 at the middle, are fitted between the lower edge of the upper strip 8 and the upper edge of the lower strip 9. so that two passages are defined back to the rear section of the casing. The front upper side of the strip 9 slants at an angle to the front sides of the upper strip 8 and these filling pieces 13 and 14, and upon the pieces ll, triangular filling pieces 15 fit back against the strips 8 and 9 and the filling pieces 13. with their front edges straight from the upper edge of the strip 8 to the lower edge of the strip From said edge of the strip 8 to said edge of the strip 1). and from the front edge of one piece 15 to the other, is stretched a sheet 16 of dust-arrestmg for-aminous material, (shown as broken away in Fig. 3). The casing has a top 17 fixed to the upper edges of the sides 1 and the upper nozzle-forming piece 4. Thus a dust chamber 18 is inclosed, with which the atmosphere has comn'iunication through the nozzle 6 at the top of its front side: and which communicates with the rear of the casing through the passages behind the formainous sheet 16; and which has its bottom formed by the strip 9 and drop door ll the upper sides of which slant abruptly downward to their meeting line at the lower edge of the foraminous sheet 16.

Rear'vardl the upper strip 8 and lower strip 9 are rabbeted on their lower and upper sides. respectively. and there are filling pieces 19 and 20 at the sides and in the middle. respectively, so that two distinct sockets are formed for the front ends of the two sets of bellows 21. Each set of bel lows is made up of a top and bottom '32 and '23, respectively, a middle diaphragm 2i and flexible sides '25 fixed to the edges of the top and bottom and diaphragm 2% on the sides and at the rear. The top and bottom 22 and 23 are fixed to the upper and lower edges, .respectively, of upper and lower strips 26 and 27 which have horizontal rows of holes 28 and '29, respectively, and having interposed between them a flexible hinge piece 30, preferably of leather, extending rearwardly therefrom into a rather deep groove along the horizontal front edge of the diaphragm 24. The bellows top is substantially parallel with the casing top 17, and at the rear and substantially midway of the length of the bellows there are spacing pieces 31 and against the lower sides of which the bellows top 22 fits. The bellows bottom 23 slopes downward rearwardly, and about midway of the length of the bellows is the sweeper casing back 33 extending upright from one end to the other with the sweeper casing top 34 extending from the top of this back up to the upper side of the rabbet in the lower strip 9. ()n the rear sides of the strips 8 and 9 and pieces 13 and 14, around the passage between them,

I there are. gaskets 35, preferably of leather,

so that communication is afforded from the dust-chamber to the interior or the bellows above and below the diaphragm 24 through the'holes 28 and 29; the bellows being supported in such a connecting position by rest- 4 mg on the sweeper casing top 34. The bellows is held in this position by a back 36 which is screwed to the back ends of the v casing sides 1, preferably having rabbcted joints therewith; and which has on its front side upper and lower cleats 37 and 33 that hold the bellows top 22 upand the bellows bottom 23-down, respectively. Also, preferably there is a lowermost cleat 39 on the front side of the back 36 fitting up against the lower rear edge of the bellows bottom 'and suitably held in radial slots 43 in the ,and the back 36.

inner sides of the wheels 40, so that the crank shaft 21 will turn with the wheels. The ends of the crank shaft extend past the wheels into bearing blocks 44 fastened on the interiors of the casing sides 1 near their bottoms between the sweeper casing back 33 Also there are bearings 45 for the crank shaft 41 on the lower sides of the bellows bottoms 23.v A bottom 46 is preferably provided below the bellows, (shown as broken away in Fig, 1.) Pitmen 47 connect the cranks 42 with the brackets 48 on the sides of the bellows diaphragms 24. The cranks are extended at right angles to each other; thus giving. four impulses at each revolution. Inlet valve flaps 49 are provided over the rear ends of the holes 28 and 29, and outlet valves 50 are provided in the tops and bottoms 22 and 23 of the bellows. A p

The nozzle 6 comprises a slotted strip of molding 51 along the bottoms of the pieces 2 and 3, which molding is covered by a suit able smooth metallic facing piece which bears on the surface to be cleaned.

I Immediately to the rear of the nozzle 6 1s the sweeper casing front running from one side 1 to the other. The lower edges of the back 33 and front 53 of the sweeper casing are rabbeted on the sides toward each other, .and pans 54 are swung on pivots 55 up against the-rabbeted parts, there being a space between the pans in which is located the brush 56 extending out through slots 57 in the sides 1 with driving pulleys 58. Mounted on the outer sides of the sides 1 are horizontal arch bars 59 which carry, at their middles, levers (50, each comprising a verticaland a rearwardly extending part having pivots 61 in the arch bars 59 and in their rearwardly extending parts, and having studs 62 projecting inwardly near the intersections of their parts; these studs (32 formingthe bearings for the brush 56 by being received in holes in the ends of the brush.

The sweeper driving wheels 63 are mounted inside the arch bars 59 at the front and rear of the brush pulleys 58 on spindles 64 that extend from one side of the apparatus to the other through openings 65 in the sides 1, and are fixed in short links 66 running forwardly and rearwardly from the front and rear spindles 64, respectively, and pivoted on screws 67 running into the sides 1 of the casing. The wheels (33 are held on their spindles 64 by hearing against the inner sides of the arch bars 59. The holes 65 in the casing sides 1 are of diameter greater than that of the s ndles 64; so that the wheels 63 may work up and down, swinging on the links 66. Endless flexible belts 68 pass around pulleys 69 on the inner sides of the wheels 63, and the upper stretches of the belts 68 pass under the brush pulleys 58. This arrangement of the belt holds the wheels 63 down against the weight of the apparatus, and the articulated mounting of the wheels 63 enables them to always hear .on the surface being cleaned, whatever the relative positionsiof the bellows driving wheels 40 at the 'Fear and the nozzle facing piece 52 atthe front. Also, it causes the wheels 63 to bear part of the weight of the forward part of the cleaner, minimizing the pressure of the nozzle on the surface being cleaned, and thus decreasing the friction.

and wear.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the sweeper brush 36 is designed to sweep up the heavier particles and dust, and the bellows acting through the nozzle 6 are designed to draw the dust thus raised up'into the dust chamber 18. It will also be seen that if the drop door 10 of the dust chamber is dropped, the dust from the dust chamber will-be discharged into the forward 54 of the sweeper. This, together with the novel downwardly slanting bottom of the dust chamber. constitutes a marked im provement in the apparatus without decreasing its effectiveness as a vacuum cleaner.

For manipulating the drop door 10 it is swung on coil springs each with a down ward arm 71 fixed in the rear of the sweeper casing front .53 and a rearward arm 72 fixed in the lower side of the drop door 10; and handles 73 lying outside the casing at opposite sides with shanks Tl extending through bearings 75 in the casing sides 1 and bent backward under and screwed to the drop door 10. Thus. pressing down on the handles 73 drops the door 10 with the shanks 7-1 as pivots, and the springs 70 close the door 10 tightly when the handles are released. The gasket 11 insures that the dust chamber is air-tight when the drop door 10 is thus closed.

As before described. the brush 36 is pivoted and hung on the levers GO. \Yhen these levers are swung forward the brush is lowered and when swung backward the brush is raised. To hold these levers 60 in any one of a number of adjusted positions. brackets 76 are mounted on the outer sides of the casing with laterally extending parts 77 having notched edges within the notches of which the levers (50 have inward lateral extensions 78.

For dumping the sweeper pans 54, a bent spring T9 straddles the brush center and has lower ends 80 engaging in the respective pans below their pivots-55,- while a lever 81 is pivoted on one of the screws that hold the bracket 76 on the outside of the casing and extends inward through an opening in the casing side and through a segmental slot 82 in the bracket 76 and over to the loop Si of the spring 79, where it has an car 83 with an opening through which the loop 8% of the spring extends. Thus by hearing down on the outer end of the lever 81 the spring 79 is raised, swinging the pans Ill open and drawing its members together; and when the lever 81 is released it forces the pans shut. due to its resiliency. I have improved the connection of this spring with the manipulating element by forming the loop 8% therein rather than merely a single bend: so that the spring 79 is prevented from creeping one way or the other through the ear of the lever 81.

The bail 85 has a socket 86 to receive a handle, and is pivoted. in plates 87 on the sides of the casing slightly to the rear of the sweeper casing. This bail is held in upright position by spring clips 88 on the outer sides of the casing a short distance above the pivot plates 87.

It will be understood that the bellows 21 are readily removable by removing the cas ing back 36 and disconnecting the bearings 45 and pitmen 46; without disturbing any of the other'parts of the apparatus. This is very convenient in case of necessity of repairs or renewal of the bellows.

('ushioning strips 89 are mounted along the sides of th arch bars 59 by having their parts confined in openings close to the attachment of the arch bars to the casing sides between the edges of these openings and the casing sides (Fig. 1). Another cushimiing strip 90 may pass around the front of the v weeper from the front end of one arch bar td the other and be held in the same manner along with the side cushioning strips 89. My vacuum cleaner. so constructed that removal of the nozzle is unnecessary. renders practical the provision of such a cushioning strip along not only the sides but around the front of the apparatus, thereby providing additional protection against marring both of the cleaner casing and of furniture or other objects which may be struck while using the apparatus.

The peculiar relation between the wheels and brush and sweeper insures constant driving action for both pneumatic and brush parts of the apparatus as well as a broom action for the brush. 1

hile the several advantages above mentioned are attained to a highly satisfactory deg! ee, the simplicity of the structure recommends it for economical manufacture as well as for convenience. reliability and durability in use.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pneumatic cleaner. a nozzle. a dust chamber to the rear of and communicating with said nozzle. means for drawing dust through said nozzle into said dust chamber, sweeping means, means below said dust chamber for receiving sweepings from said sweeping means. said dust chamber comprising -drop door, and means extending outside said cleaner for dropping said door to discharge dust from said dust chamber into said means that receives the sweepings.

2. In a pneumatic cleaner, a nozzle. a dust chamber to the rear of and communicating with said nozzle. means for drawing dust through said nozzle into said dust chamber, swee iiing means, means below said dust chamber for receiving sweepings from said sweeping means, said dust chamber comprising av bottom made up of parts slanting down toward each other, one of said parts being movable downwardly, and means extending outside said cleaner for moving said part downwardly to discharge dust from said dust chamber into said means that receives the sweepings.

In a pneumatic cleaner, a casing with a fixed nozzle. sweeping means, a dust chamber communicating with said nozzle and above the sweeping means, a bellows to draw dust through said nozzle into said dust chamber, lying above the sweeping means and entirely below the level of the top of the dust chamber, means for operating said bellows, a top for said cleaner extending over the dust chamber and bellows, and a to for said sweeping means slanting rearwar ly, said bellOWS tapering forwardly and being wedged between the top of the sweeping means and the top of the cleaner, and a removable back for said cleaner holding said bellows in wedged osition.

4; In a pneumatic cleaner, a dust chamber, means for drawing dust into said chamber, sweeping means, and means for receiving sweepings from the sweeping means, a

, drop door forming part drop door forming part of the bottom of said dust chamber, a coil spring yieldably holding said door up and closing the bottom of the dust chamber, and a pivot for said drop door, whereby it may be dropped and dust may be discharged -from said dust chamber into said sweeping means.

5. In a pneumatic cleaner, a dust chamber, means for drawing dust into said chamber, sweeping means, and means for receiving sweepings from the sweeping means, a

of the bottom of said dust chamber, a coil spring yieldably holding said door up and closing the bottom of the dust chamber, and a handle com- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for prising apart extending outside the cleaner, a shank extending into and bearing in a part of the cleaner, and a rearward part fixed to said drop door whereby said shank forms a pivot for said drop door, and where by said door may be dropped and dust may be discharged from said dust chamber into said means for receiving sweepings by engagement with said handle.

6. In a pneumatic cleaner, a casing with a fixed nozzle, a sweeping means and means for receiving sweepings from the sweepin means, a dust chamber over said means for receiving sweepings, means to draw dust through said nozzle into said dust chamber. a front for said means for receiving ings. to the rear of and under said nozzle 'a drop door forming part of the bottom of said dust chamber, a coil spring with a downward member engaging with said front, and a rearward member engaging with said drop door, yieldably holding said door up and closing the bottom of the dust chamber, and a pivot for said drop door, whereby it may be dropped and dust may be discharged from said dust chamber into said means for receivin sweepings.

AUGU T C. HUMMEL. \Vitnesses CLARENCE PERDEW, JAMES N. RAMSEY.

five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0." 

